Wednesday, 5 February 2025

 Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:16): I rise to update the house on how the Allan Labor government is continuing to support families across Victoria and our littlest learners as they return to kinder for 2025. Families around the state have started their kinder journey last week and this week, with many attending brand new and updated buildings thanks to continued investment from this government. This morning I announced the recipients of the 2024–25 Building Blocks inclusion grants, including $9 million in funding to upgrade facilities and playgrounds and to refurbish equipment. This funding will be shared among 406 kindergartens across Victoria, including Perridak Burron Early Learning Centre, who will receive funding to transform their play area into a culturally rich and inclusive outdoor environment for all children to enjoy and learn in. Forty-one kinders will receive grants of up to $200,000 to upgrade buildings, playgrounds and amenities, making them all-inclusive for children of all needs and all abilities, while 361 services will receive grants of up to $10,000 in funding to buy movable and accessible equipment, such as adjustable furniture and sensory equipment.

Further, it was a busy start to the summer with the announcement that 150 kinders will receive $6000 bush kinder grants, doubling the number of bush kinder grants across the state. We know that early learning is fundamental in children’s education, and programs like bush kinder support our kids’ wellbeing and physical development. Bush kinder offers our littlest learners the opportunity to explore and play in nature. This round of grants helped establish 43 bush kinders in regional Victoria and 107 in metropolitan Melbourne.

It is this side of the house that invests in early childhood education. It was this Labor government that launched Building Blocks in 2020 and since then has provided more than $200 million for over 230 capacity and planning projects. Further, we have committed more than $128 million to 7200 improvement, inclusion and other early childhood infrastructure grants. Our $14 billion Best Start, Best Life reform is focused on helping all children thrive, and we cannot wait to see how children of all needs and all abilities thrive at kinder.